Chapter 215: Divorce

"Boss, what kind of booklet did that person just write?" Zhou Wangshu asked the bookstore owner.

The bookstore owner sized up Zhou Wangshu, glanced at Su Yaoguang nearby, and replied mysteriously, "Sir will surely like it."

Then, he sneakily took out a booklet from under the counter.

"What are you buying?" Su Yaoguang happened to come over.

Zhou Wangshu saw the cover featuring a peony illustration and didn’t think much of it. He opened it in front of Su Yaoguang, only to immediately close it after a glance.

Su Yaoguang felt a bit embarrassed, touched her cheek, and pretended to look aside, "I’ll go check over there."

"This was drawn by Xiao Yanci." Zhou Wangshu felt the need to clarify. "I was just curious about what kind of booklet he was selling. The boss even said he’d pay him a high price."

After saying this, he glared at the boss, "Is this the booklet you said you’d pay a high price for?"

The boss chuckled, "We are all men, and men should understand men’s thoughts. This kind of booklet sells the best. Moreover, besides everything else, Mr. Xiao’s drawing skills are truly exceptional. His portraits of beauties are so lifelike. Recently, his booklets have been in high demand!"

Hearing it was drawn by Xiao Yanci, Su Yaoguang became genuinely curious. She took the booklet from Zhou Wangshu’s hand, ignoring his attempts to stop her, and opened it.

Click, click...

It indeed depicted endless spring scenes, quite scandalous.

However, why did the female protagonist in the drawing seem so much like Jiang Yihuan? Did Xiao Yanci actually sketch his daily life with Jiang Yihuan?

Zhou Wangshu closed the booklet in Su Yaoguang’s hand.

"Aren’t you worried it’s offensive to your eyes," Zhou Wangshu said, somewhat displeased.

Though he didn’t examine it closely, even a glance revealed that the male and female protagonists in the drawing closely resembled Xiao Yanci and Jiang Yihuan.

Xiao Yanci was really going all out to make money.

What was he thinking?

Or is it that he hasn’t seen anyone else’s body and couldn’t just conjure up an imaginary one, relying solely on realism to earn this hard money?

If that’s the case, then he truly deserves to earn that money. After all, he sacrificed his dignity to earn it, something ordinary folks indeed cannot do.

"Let’s go," Zhou Wangshu said, pulling Su Yaoguang away.

"Weren’t we going to pick out books?"

"Not picking anymore."

This dirty place is better left sooner rather than later, lest it taints their eyes.

On the way back, Su Yaoguang brought up the earlier incident, saying, "Xiao is short on money, even forsaking his dignity to do this."

"He’s preparing funds for the upcoming capital exam," Zhou Wangshu said, "But I say, if word gets out, even if he passes both the local and capital exams, it will become a subject of conversation among others."

"If it weren’t for desperation, I suppose he wouldn’t be earning this hard money," Su Yaoguang said, "Able to yield and stretch, truly someone capable of big things."

"He can accomplish big things? What makes you think he can accomplish big things?"

Su Yaoguang: "...I was just saying casually, no need for such scrutiny."

They returned to Taoyao Square, finding quite a few guests, but Zhang Zhaodi and the others weren’t in the front courtyard.

At this hour, the number of guests should be at its peak, Zhang Zhaodi and the others shouldn’t be absent.

"Xiang Lan, where’s my mom?" Su Yaoguang asked a nearby female assistant.

The female assistant was drafting orders while saying, "Aunt Yingdi just came back. She returned with a bad complexion, and the boss lady and Aunt Pan Di took her inside."

"Aunt is back," Su Yaoguang remarked, "Did uncle come back too?"

"Mr. Wang did not come back with Aunt Yingdi."

"If uncle didn’t return, then Aunt’s dissatisfaction should have something to do with uncle," Su Yaoguang pondered, "Forget it, Mom and my second aunt are inside accompanying her. If I, a junior, intrude recklessly, their close conversations might become awkward. Let’s stay and help."

Taoyao Square’s reputation is good, attracting more out-of-town guests to the store. Originally, this wasn’t a prospering city, lacking trade routes, and rarely did we see foreigners doing business here. But since Taoyao Square’s name went out, more and more people are detouring here just to enjoy Taoyao Square’s products and services.

Just like usual, they busied themselves until dark, then closed up shop.

At this point, Zhang Zhaodi and others came out with Zhang Yingdi.

Taoyao Square offers both board and lodging. Now it’s time for dinner, and everyone is gathering to eat together.,

The Zhang family’s three sisters are stewards and must manage the assistants they’re responsible for.

"Aunt, who bullied you?" Su Yaoguang placed a chicken leg in Zhang Yingdi’s bowl.

Zhang Yingdi had mostly controlled her emotions, but when Su Yaoguang asked, her eyes turned red.

"Don’t ask anymore," Zhang Zhaodi said, "Though she was angry, you couldn’t tell much sorrow earlier. Now that you’ve asked, she’s begun crying instead."

"If Aunt doesn’t want to speak, she doesn’t have to. But if you do, we’ll surely stand up for you," Su Yaoguang said.

"I want a divorce," Zhang Yingdi said, "Yaoguang, do you support me?"

"I support you," Su Yaoguang replied, "My aunt has such a good temper. All these years, with uncle’s health so poor, you’ve never wavered, never uttered a complaint. Now that life is better, uncle’s health improved, yet you want a divorce—it means you’ve truly been heartbroken."

"Wang Huanzhi is worth nothing. He had a childhood sweetheart whom he nearly married, but when his health went downhill, she despised him and refused to marry him. Logically, such a woman shouldn’t be bothered with anymore, but he went ahead, encountered her struggling for silver, and went to be the hero saving the damsel. Has he somehow forgotten whose contribution won him the present? Heartless dog of a man! Such a dog deserves nothing from our little sister."

"Right, since you’re not true couples yet, it’s actually quicker to divorce and let us help find a better match." Zhang Pandi chimed in.

"Let’s not bring him up. Hurry, eat before it gets cold," Zhang Yingdi forced a bitter smile.

"Does uncle have other entanglements with that woman?" Su Yaoguang asked, "If there’s none, should we give him a chance to justify himself?"

"You already said ’justify’, so what else is there to say?" Zhang Zhaodi, being fiery-tempered, cannot tolerate betrayal.

No matter the reason, if entangled in romance, to her, it’s an irrevocable fault.

Su Yaoguang saw that Zhang Yingdi genuinely felt, reluctant to end things just like that, hence sought to soften matters with her.

"Uncle has a gentle disposition, inherently kind. Even if it’s not an old flame needing help, even if it’s someone he doesn’t know needing assistance, he might offer his aid out of pure kindness. So uncle helping that woman doesn’t necessarily mean he’s thinking of her fondly, it might just be simple kindness." Jiang Jing said.